Welcome Underground

Theatre Underground is primarily dedicated to theatre that presents deeply human stories and all the wonderful awkwardness and complexity of emotions that come with them. We are about intimate human experience told through powerful characters, passionate storytelling, and raw emotional truth that challenges you to care and to connect.

Why enjoy one great show when you can enjoy two?

Theatre Underground presents You Didn’t Ask To Be Here and Donkey Derby in PAIRED UP, running September 11th through 13th at The Avalon Studios (738A Bank St).

In the world premiere of You Didn’t Ask To Be Here, join Charlie (a living Jack-in-the-box) for an evening of stories, puppets, dancing and a heartfelt journey to face her fears and break through the obstacles that life sometimes puts in our way.

PLUS

Immerse yourself in Irish culture and get a look at a Letterkenny lifestyle with stories of growing up in Ireland in Tess Mc Manus’s Donkey Derby. This is the critically acclaimed Donkey Derby’s first time back in Ottawa after its 2012 Ottawa Fringe Festival premiere and successful tour along the Fringe circuit that summer

That’s two great shows on one ticket for one stellar evening of entertainment.

Theatre Underground is pleased to announce the two shows that will be presented as part of the first installment of PAIRED UP, running September 11th-13th.

You Didn’t Ask To Be Here

A world premiere presentation, produced by Theatre Underground. You Didn’t Ask To Be Here is a one-act one-woman highly theatrical comedy told through storytelling, shadow puppetry, dance, and more. It is written by Allan Mackey and stars Megan Carty as Charlie, the living jack-in-the-box.

Charlie is a living jack-in-the-box and leader of those stuck in the land of lost toys and discarded dreams. Childlike, and playful, she spends her time telling grand tales and avoiding dealing with her arch-nemesis, the self-named Great Enemy.

She’ll tell you all about Romeo & Zombie Juliet, how the Unicorns lost their horns, would be star quarterback John Tucker, and The Girl Outside.

Charlie is good at stories but she’s bad at facing her fears. And with the threat of the Great Enemy continuing to grow, her continued inability to do so puts everybody in danger.

Donkey Derby

Produced by Little Green Hat, written and performed by Tess Mc Manus. Donkey Derby first premiered at the 2012 Ottawa Fringe Festival and earned rave reviews for Mc Manus before the show went on the road along the Fringe circuit to Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Mary, a young Irish woman living close to the border of the Republic and North of Ireland is forced to face her crippling social anxiety after being entered into her town’s local donkey derby against her will. While providing cultural insight and a close-up look at growing up in Ireland, this play is more than just about a girl and her donkey. It’s about Ireland’s current political climate, how it impacts the lives of young people decades after the 1970s Troubles, and it’s about one girl’s plea for peace.

Rule number one. Smile. Always smile. If you forget everything else, remember rule number one. It will get you through the darkest places. All the other rules lead to one and all the rules come from one. Follow them. Follow it.

Do you have a one-act show in the works? Or maybe even ready to go already?

Theatre Underground is looking for companies interested in taking part in our first PAIRED UP event, happening this September at the AVALON STUDIO. (Our plan is to hold PAIRED UP bi-annually.)

For PAIRED UP, we take two one act (under 60 minute) plays and pair them together for a full evening’s entertainment. (Two companies means half the venue cost and double the promotional reach!)

For consideration: you have a one act show that is stage ready or will be stage ready by early September. This is a show that has flexible tech requirements and is set light — can be changed over pretty quickly. (Think along festival lines.)

Companies participating in PAIRED UP get full share of the net box office.

Applications for the first PAIRED UP will be accepted until July 21th.

You Didn’t Ask To Be Here is a one act, one woman show. It’s a storytelling comedy about dealing with fear, and facing the things that hold you back. It’s about life, and how we deal with the things it throws at us.

Charlie is a living jack-in-the-box and leader of those in the land of lost toys and discarded dreams. Childlike, and playful, she spends her time telling grand tales and dealing with her arch-nemesis, the self-named Great Enemy.

She’ll tell you all about Romeo & Zombie Juliet, how the Unicorns lost their horns, would be star quarterback John Tucker, and The Girl Outside.

Charlie is good at stories, bad at facing her fears. And with the threat of the Great Enemy continuing to grow, her continued inability to do so puts everybody in danger.

Smile.

What we’re looking for is a kick-ass Stage Manager (or an up-and-coming one), who wants to join a great team and help bring this magical show to life.

The details:
— Rehearsals start early August.
— Rehearsal schedule TBD. Expected to be weekday mornings.
— Show weekend is September 11th-13th.
— Position is unsalaried, but honorarium will be provided.